No, of course not - if you're saying 'on your left!' every 5 seconds, that's your cue that said MUP is not in a condition for speedy cycling - as you point out. On the MUP part of my commute this morning, for instance, I'd say I said 'on your left!' maybe 5 times in 3 miles.

If you're having close calls, you need to work on your psychic powers. ;) I've gotten decent at recognizing the clueless, and I announce extra early for them. Of course, it also helps that probably 2/3 of the traffic on our MUP during weekdays is cyclists, so the peds get used to it.

Unfortunately, I've noticed lately that some peds have taken to intentionally walking against traffic on the MUP, no doubt because they're sick of being buzzed by silent cyclists. So to those who find no reason to ever announce...there's your result.

So what is it in a condition for? Staying home and not using it, because you've got the audacity to ride a bicycle? Or, if you're riding along at a crawl, should you still constantly say, "On your left"?

Er, well, perhaps. Is it a reasonable result? I'm not so sure. Given that a pedestrian on a MUP is in an environment where they may reasonably expect other users of the Multi Use Path to be using the path in other ways -- and that most of those ways involve moving faster than a pedestrian -- I think that this pedestrian bears some responsibility to maintain awareness of other traffic. I don't think it's too much to ask to turn your head and look behind you from time to time. It seems to me that that's part of the pedestrian's accomodation to other types of users on a Multi Use Path. Cyclists have to make some accomodations; pedestrians should as well.

My paved bike trail isn't so busy that I'm having to announce myself that often. Maybe 14 times on a good 2hr/30 mile ride. I use a bell way in advance of meeting anyone so they have time to realize I am not an Icecream Truck and indeed am a bicycle that's approaching rapidly and they should move.

And hey I guess I'm a bit in the odd camp anyway since I actually get positive vibes from seeing others on the path. Wether it's walkers, runners, rollerbladers or people on slower bikes... it's good to see people out getting a work out. I say "Hey" or "Howdy" to everyone or atleast give the one handed wave or a good nod.

Create some positive vibes for others and it can make the whole experience better as some of them will then say hi to others they meet on the trail. Announcing your presence with a bell is a lot better than having someone drift infront of you and causing a big accident or giving some poor old person a heart attack.

I have to admit, a tiny bit of my reluctance to announce verbally my intent to pass is an introverted inhibition. Most of you, and all extroverts, will find this silly, but some of you introverts may understand where I'm coming from. Seriously, I'm not trying to be an a-hole when I pass silently, and I assess each situation as they appear, so I will make a verbal announcement when it's likely I'd startle someone. And I actually prefer cyclists passing me to do so silently. If they yell something, I'll know it's because they've adequately determined the necessity to do so.

But I do know the law is the law, and most locales require an announcement when passing. You know, I'll follow that law when motorists stop blowing through red lights, which is enormously widespread now more than ever before.

I have a little < $5 bell on my bars. It's just a spring-loaded plastic handle you push down and let go - it strikes the metal casing and DING! I'll pop it a couple of times to indicate my presence, with enough time to dodge the pedestrians if they wig out and do something dumb. If I can clearly see headphones in their ears, I don't bother since they're ignorant of their surroundings anyways, I just give a wide berth as I pass.

I generally signal to other cyclists because my bike is usually fairly quiet.

As a side note, I love it when I see an old squeaky MTB going down the paths and they use a bell, like you couldn't hear them coming from about a hundred feet back. lol.

I'm mostly an introvert as well. The bell keeps me from having to say much... however I still will say hi/howdy/sup/yo or nod or something just to help make everyones experience a little better on the trail.

Yelling out "on your left" or "bicycle" or something just isn't for me at all. The bell is where it's at

**rrring rrring**

This happened to me once; I rang my bell and some guy who wasn't all that old started ringing back until I had completely passed him.

I would hazard a guess that was their response to you calling out and not having a bell... As in a haughty suggestion you get one.

I'll say something for other cyclists (professional courtesy). For pedestrians it will depend on my mood. I find that most of the time they won't hear me over their headphones, or they act like deer: some whip their head around and freeze, some get to the right, and some get to the left.
Several months ago i was trying to pass a kid on his left and called out appropriately. He looked over his right shoulder, didn't see anything and kept rotating his head around, causing him to drift left, nearly forcing me into gravel and grass and whatever else was there. He was also carrying his helmet.
Since then, it just depends on my mood and circumstance. If I'm going to pass quickly and the person is far enough over, I usually don't say a thing.

+1, but I get towards shouting for the ones with their MP3 players plugging their ear canals.